Santa Maria Beach

Santa Maria Beach is a stunning horseshoe-shaped bay along the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, and it's widely considered the best family snorkeling beach in the entire Los Cabos area. The bay is a designated marine sanctuary, which means no motorized water sports are allowed and the marine life is thriving.

The protected shape of the cove keeps the water remarkably calm compared to open ocean beaches, and the visibility is often 30+ feet on good days. Kids who are comfortable with a snorkel mask can float right above schools of tropical fish — you'll spot parrotfish, damselfish, pufferfish, and the iconic yellow-and-black sergeant majors within minutes of entering the water. The rocky outcroppings along both sides of the bay are where the best fish action is, while the sandy center is perfect for younger kids who just want to wade and play.

Getting here requires a bit of planning since there are no facilities whatsoever — no bathrooms, no food vendors, no gear rentals. The easiest and cheapest option is the Ruta del Desierto bus from downtown Cabo San Lucas, which drops you at the parking area about a 5-minute walk from the sand. You can also take a taxi (about $25-30 one way) or book a snorkeling boat tour that stops here as part of a multi-bay itinerary.

The beach itself is a wide crescent of soft golden sand backed by desert hills. There's limited natural shade from a few palm trees, so bringing your own umbrella or pop-up tent is important, especially if you're spending the day. The sand gets scorching hot by midday, so water shoes are a good idea for the walk from the parking area.

Santa Maria Beach is also a popular stop for snorkeling tour boats, so by 11 AM the bay can get crowded with tour groups. Arriving early — by 9 AM — gives your family the best combination of uncrowded beach, calm water, and prime snorkeling conditions. This is the kind of beach day that kids talk about for years.